Load handling apparatus



May 17, 1966 P. LAMER ETAL 3,251,496

LOAD HANDLING AFPARATUS Filed Nov. 2, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 17, 1966 G. P. LAMER r-:TAL

LOAD HANDLING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 2, 1964 *ww- 6j mU/i/ United States Patent O 3,251,496 LOAD HANDLING APPARATUS Gerald P. Lamer and Elliott S.' Burdick, Wausau, W1 s.,

assignors to Drott Manufacturing Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Nov. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 488,286 6 Claims. (Cl. 214-392) This invention relates to load handling apparatus and more particularly to a vehicle and grapple mechanism therefor for lifting and transporting cango carriers, such as large containers, trailers, and the like.

In loading and unload-ing cargo carriers, trailers, and the like, on and from railroad cars and in handling the same or similar Aloads in other areas, the practice has developed of utilizing a double gantry type vericle equipped with a grappler which will engage and lift the containers, trailers, and the like. The vehicles are normally of a size to straddle a railroad car and a container, trailer, or truck standing beside the railroad car so that the grappler can engage and pick up the container or trailer, lift the same and move it laterally yonto or off the railroad car. Such vehicles are also capable of lifting a container or trailer and moving the same along a string of cars toward or from a desired loading position. One such apparatus is more particularly disclosed and claimed in the application of Baudhuin et al., Serial No. 30,947, tiled May 23, 19,60, now Patent No. 3,161,309.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide an improved load handling apparatus of thetype referred to above in which the construction and operation are simplified to make it more sturdy and more reliable and easy to control in operation.

Another object is tol provide load handling apparatus in which the grappler arms are mounted on a rigid frame for movement toward and away from each other to vary the spacing therebetween, to accommodate different sized loads.

According `to a feature of the invention, pairs of grappler arms are mounted on mounting means which are slidable len-gthwise of the grappler frame. Power means, such as a hydraulic cylinder and piston tyipe motor, are preferably provided to move the mounting means relative to the frame and also to swing the arms toward and away :from each other to gripping and releasing position.

According to another feature of the invention, the'grappler frame is rigid and is pivoted at one end o n a carriage movable along a beam on the vehicle with the other end of the grappler frame slidably carrying Ia carriage which is pivoted to a carriage on a second beam on the vehicle spaced from and parallel yto the iirst beam. With this construction the grappler frame is adequately and :properly supported and is able t-o be turned at an angle to the supporting beams on the vehicle for proper alignment with a railroad car on which the load is being deposited or from which it is being removed.

A further object is to provide load handling apparatus in which iiuid motors for swinging the grappler arms from depending to horizontal -positions and separate uid motors for moving the grappler arms toward and away from each other to gripping or releasing position are automatically controlled to operate in a predetermined sequence -by a single control valve. According to a 'feature of the invention, the two pairs of grappler arms are caused to swing successively between depending and horizontal clearance positions so that there will be no interference between them.

The above and other objects yand features of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following description when read in connection With the accompanying drawings, in which:

p v ice FIG. 1 is a perspective View of a load handling apparatus embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective View of the grappler mechanism with parts broken away;

FIG. 3 is a hydraulic circuit diagram; and

FIG. 4 is a partial elevation of one of the carriages.

'Ihe entire apparatus, :as shown in FIG. l, comprises a double gantry straddle type vehicle supported on wheels 10, two of which are preferably steera-ble through steering cylinders, as shown at 11, and which support the entire vehicle for movement over the, ground. The steerable wheels are preferably power driven as by means of hydraulic motors supplied With operating iluid under pressure from a main pump driven by an engine, the pump -and engine both being housed in a housing 12. The

steering, as well as the other operations of the vehicle, may be controlled by an operator from an operators cab 13 which is conveniently mounted -on the vehicle as, for example, at one side thereof.

The vehicle comprises a pair of inverted U-sihaped Igantries, each of which is formed by a pair of spaced upright columns 14 connected at their tops by cross beams 15. The two U-shaped gantries are connected and spaced apart by side rails 16 to 'form a complete straddle type vehicle of a type which is generally well known in the art.

The vehicle further includes vertically movable beams 17 and 18', each of which extends between the upright columns 14 and one of the gantry lframes and which is guided for vertical movement by guide rollers 19 which engage the sides of the adjacent column. ln this way, the beams 17 and 18 can move vertically but are held against any turning or swaying relative to the gantry frames. Each off the beams 17 and 18 is moved vertically by means of power driven drums driven by hydraulic motors 21 and on which cables 22 are wound. The cables, as shown, extend over sheaves 23 .carried by the beams 17 and 18 so that these beams will be moved vertically while maintaining their normal horizontal position.

The beams 17 and 18 carry a grappler mechanism which is best shown in FIG. 2. lThis mechanism comprises a rigid rectangular frame formed by side rails 24 secured in spaced parallel position by end members 25 which are rigidly connected thereto and by intermediate cross braces 26. fI-lor securing the frame to the bea-ms 17 and 18, it is formed at one end with a .cross plate 27 which is pivoted on a vertical axis to a carriage 28 slidable along the beam 18. The carriage may be moved by cables connected thereto and which are controlled through a suitable winch mechanism mounted on `the beam 18. At lthe other end of the frame a carriage, indicated generallyV at 29, is slidable along the side rails 24 and carries across plate 31. The cross plate 31 is pivoted to a carriage 32 slidable along the beam 17 and moveable therealong by cables, or the like, in the same manner as the carriage 28. As shown in FIG.,4, each carriage 28 and 32 has a pivot pin 28EL connected thereto through a hinge 30 extending parallel to the length of the carriage t0 accommodate variations in the level of the beams 17 and 18.

With this construction it will be seen that the grappler frame can be turned to an angle to the beams 17 and 18 with the carriage 29 sliding along the side rails 24 of the grappler frame to accommodate effective changes in distance'between the rails when the frame is in a right angular position or at an acute angle to one of the rails. At the same time,the grappler frame is very securely supported and may be easily controlled for positioning a load at a desired position and at a de'- sired angle.

The side rails 24 of the grappler frame slidably support a pair of grappler carriages 33 which are normally positioned adjacent to opposite ends of the grappler frame and which are slidable lengthwise thereof to vary the spacing between the pairs of grappler arms, to be described hereinafter. For moving the carriages 33, a cable 34 in the form of an endless loop is threaded over sheaves 35 at opposite ends of the grappler frame. One run of the cable 34 is connected to the carriage 33 at one end of the grappler frame while the other run of the cable is connected to the grappler frame at the opposite end of the carriage. Therefore, when the cable is moved the carriages 33 will be moved simultaneously in opposite directions to vary the spacing between them.

As shown, each of the carriages 33 includes a tubular housing member 36 rigidly connecting slide members at opposite sides of the grappler frame and which slidably embrace lower ilanges on the side rails 24 which are preferably in the form of eye beams. A hydraulic motor, including a cylinder 37 with a piston slidable therein and connected to a piston rod 38 connects one of the carriages 33 to the grappler frame to move it therealong. As shown, the cylinder 37 is connected at one end to one of the cross members 26 and the piston rod 38 is connected at its 4outer end to a bracket 40 on one of the tubular housings 36. The appropriate run of the cable 34 may conveniently be connected to the same bracket with the other run of the cable being connected to the tubular housing 36 of the opposite carriage in a similar manner. Supply of actuating uid under pressure to the other end of the cylinder 37 may be controlled selectively by the operator through a reversing valve in the cab 13 so that the spacing between the grappler carriages may be varied, as desired, from a remote point.

A shaft extends rotatably through the tubular housing 36 of each of the carriages 33 and at its opposite ends pivotally carries a grappler arm 39 which is pivoted thereon on an axis transverse to .the length of the shaft. The two pairs of grappler arms so provided are adapted to be moved toward and away from each other in the common plane in which they lie by hydraulic cylinders 41 connected between the adjacent carriage and the grappler arm. When the hydraulic cylinders 41 are expanded .they will swing the arms inwardly toward each other to engage and grip a load while when they are retracted they will cause the arms of each pair to swing away from each other to a load releasing position.

The shafts on which the grappler arms are mounted are adapted to be rotated on their own axes to swing the grappler arms from a depending working position to a raised generally horizontal position for passing easily over the top of a trailer or the like without requiring excessive height for the gantry frames. This is accomplished by a hydraulic cylinder 42 pivoted at one end to an extension of each of the carriages 33 and at its opposite end to a flange on the adjacent shaft spaced from the axis thereof. When the cylinder 42 is expanded, it will rock the shaft in a direction to swing the grappler arms 39 to a substantially horizontal position while when it is retracted it will cause the grappler arms to swing to a vertical depending position over the load in a position to engage and lift the same.

According to a feature of the invention, the hydraulic cylinders 41 and 42 are controlled sequentially through a single reversing valve 43, which may conveniently be in the operators cab, to act in a desired sequence. As shown, the reversing valve 43 receives fluid under pressure from a pressure line 44 and also communicates `with a return line 45 which returns exhaust fluid either to the pump or to a sump therefor. The valve 43 can be turned to one position to connect .the line 44 either to a lline 46 or to a line 47 thereby to reverse the action of the cylinders 42. and 41.

As shown, the line 46 is connected directly to the piston rod end of each of the two cylinders 42. The large end of one cylinder 42 shown at the lower part of FIG. 3 is connected through a check valve 48 to a line 49 which communicates with a line 51. The line 51 is connected through a check valve 52 to the line 47. The large end of the upper cylinder 42, as seen in FIG. 3, is connected through a pressure relief valve 53 to the line 51. With this construction when pressure is supplied to the line 46 the lower hydraulic cylinder 42 will retractimmediately to swing one pair of grappler arms 39 to their depending position. However, the pressure loaded valve 53 will delay movement of the second cylinder 42 until suicient pressure builds up in the small end thereof to force fluid in the large end thereof past the resistance of the valve 53. Therefore, the two pairs of grappler arms will be swung downward from their horizontal to their depending positions sequentially so that there will be no danger of their engaging and perhaps catching on each other to interfere with pressure operation.

After both of the hydraulic cylinders 42 have been Afully retracted and both pairs of grappler arms are in their depending position, pressure will build up in the line 46 until it opens a pressure responsive valve 54 through which the line 46 is connected to a line 55. The line 55, as shown, communicates directly with the large ends of the four hydraulic cylinders 41 so that they will operate simultaneously to extend and to swing the grappler arms 39 of each pair toward each other to engage a load. Fluid exhausted from the piston rod ends of the cylinders 41 will enter a return line 56 and will flow directly to the line 47 through a spring loaded check valve 57 which insures that the cylinders 41 will be retained full of liquid and prevent the arms from swinging in-which would interfere with their proper operation.

With the arrangement as so far described, it will be seen that the cylinders 42 are operated sequentially to bring the grappler arms 39 to their depending load engaging position before the grappler arms can be swung toward each other. As soon as the grappler arms are in their depending position and with the valve 43 remaining in its position, as described, the cylinders 41 will be energized to cause the grappler arms to engage a load.

For releasing the load and for swinging the grappler arms to their horizontal position, the valve 43 is reversed to connect the pressure line 44 to the line 47 and the return line 45 to the line 46. In this position, fluid pressure will be immediately supplied from the line 44 to the line 56 past a check valve 58 to retract all of the hydraulic cylinders 41 simultaneously. Fluid forced from the larger ends of .the cylinders 41 will ow through the line 55 and past a check valve 59 to the line 46 and the return line 45.

When the cylinders 41 are all fully retracted, pressure will build up in the line 47 to open a pressure responslve valve 61 through which the line 47 is connected to the line 51. Fluid will immediately be supplied from the line 51 past a check valve 62 to the lower or larger end of the upper cylinder 42, as seen in FIG. 3, to expand this motor and to rock one of the pairs of grappler arms promptly to its horizontal position. When the upper cylinder 42 is fully expanded and after the first pair of grappler arms has been moved to its horizontal position, pressure will build up in the line 51 and will be transmitted through the line 49 and through a pressure responsive valve 63 therein to the larger end of the lower cylinder 42 to extend it. In this way, the pairs of grappler arms are moved successively from their depending to their raised horizontal positions so that they cannot interfere with each other.

It will be noted in this operation that the cylinders 41 are all fully actuated to release the grappler arms from the load before either of the cylinders 42 can be actuated to swing the grappler arms upwardly to pass over the top of the load. It will further be observed that all of these operations are controlled in proper sequence by a single reversing valve 43 in the operators cab.

Once a load has been engaged by the grappler arms, it can be raised to the desired elevation either in a level or tilted position by raising the cross beams i7 and 13, can be turned to any desired angle by moving the carriages 2S and 32, and can also be moved from one side of the vehicle to the other. In this way, a great deal of fiexibility accompanied by accurate positioning of the load is accomplished in a simple and highly eiiective manner.

While one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail, it will be understood that'this is for the purpose of illustration only and is not to be taken as a denition of the scope of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Load handling-apparatus comprising a pair of spaced parallel gantry frames, wheels supporting the gantry frames for movement over the ground, a horizontal beam carried by each of the gantry frames for vertical movement thereon, an elongated rigid grappler frame, carriages movable lengthwise of the beams, means directly pivotally connecting one end of the grappler frame to one of the carriages, a support mounted on the grappler frame for movement lengthwise thereof, means pivotally connecting the support to the other carriage, and grappler arms mounted on the frame to engage and lift a load.

2. Load handling apparatus comprising a pair of spaced parallel gantry frames, Wheels supporting the gantry frames for movement over the ground, a horizontal beam carried by each of the gantry frames for vertical movement thereon, an elongated rigid grappler frame, carriages movableV lengthwise of the beams, means directly pivotally connecting one end of the grappler frame to one of the carriages, a support mounted on the grappler frame for movement lengthwise thereof, means pivotally connecting the support to the other carriage, two pairs of grappler arms, means mounting the pairs of grappler arms on the frame for movement lengthwise thereof toward and away from each other, and means to move the grappler arms of each pair toward and away from each other.

3. The load handling apparatus of claim 2 including means mounting the pairs of grappler arms on the mounting means for swinging about axes transverse to the grappler frame length from a depending position to a generally horizontal position adjacent to the grappler frame, and power means to swing the grappler arms about said axes. v

4. Load handling apparatus comprising a grappler frame, a pair of grappler arms lying in a common plane, means mounting the grappler arms on the frame for swinging from a depending position to a generally horizontal position adjacent to the frame, a double acting hydraulic cylinder to swing the grappler arms between said positions, means mounting the grappler arms on the first named mounting means for swinging in said common plane toward and away from each other, second double acting hydraulic cylinder to swing the arms toward and away from each other, a pair of fluid lines connected to the first and second cylinders, the first so as to supply uid under pressure thereto to cause the rst cylinder to move the arms to their depending position and the second cylinder to swing the arms together and the second so as to supply uid pressure thereto to cause the second horizontal position, a pressure responsive valve in the connection of the first line to the second hydraulic cylinder whereby the arms will not be swung toward each other until after they are moved to their depending positions, and a pressure responsive valve in the connection of the second line to the first cylinder whereby the arms will not be swung to their horizontal position until after they have been moved away from each other. Y

5. Load handling apparatus comprising an elongated grappler frame, two pairs of grappler arms adjacent to the ends of the frame respectively, each pair of arms lying in a plane transverse to the frame length and being mounted for movement in said plane toward and away from each other, means mounting the pairs of grappler arms for swinging about axes transverse to the frame length from a depending position to a generally horizontal position adjacent to the frame, irst hydraulic double acting cylinders connected to the mounting means to lswing the arms between said positions, secondv hydraulic double acting cylinders connected to the arms'of each pair to move them toward and away from each other, a pair of duid linesconnected to all of the hydraulic cylinders, the first to supply operating iiuid thereto in a direction to cause the first cylinder to move the arms to their depending position and the second cylinder to move the arms of each pair together, the second line to supply fluid in a direction to cause the second cylinder to move the arms of each pair apart and the first cylinder to move the arms to their generally horizontal position, a pressure responsive valve in the connection of the first line to the second cylinder whereby the arms of the pairs will not be moved together until after the arms are swung to their depending position, a pressure responsive valve in the connection of the second line to the first cylinder whereby the arms will vnot be Iswung to their generally horizontal positions until after the arms of the pairs have been moved apart, and means in the connections to the first cylinder to cause them to operate sequentially in both directions.

6. The load handling apparatus of claim 5 in which the last named means comprises a pressure responsive valve in the connection of the second line to one of the first cylinders, and means in the connection of said one of the first cylinders to the second line to produce a resistance to flow of fluid from the cylinder into the line.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,815,547 12/ 1957 Hedderich 294-67 X 2,982,430 5/1961 Clifton 214-392. 3,086,661 4/1963 De Stasi 214-392 X 3,161,309 12/1964 Baudhuin et al 214-392 GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner. HUGO O. SCHULZ, Examiner.

A. I. MAKAY, Assistant Examiner. 

4. LOAD HANDLING APPARATUS COMPRISING A GRAPPLER FRAME, A PAIR OF GRAPPLER ARMS LYING IN A COMMON PLANE MEANS MOUNTING THE GRAPPLER ARMS ON THE FRAME FOR SWINGING FROM A DEPENDING POSITION TO A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL POSITION ADJACENT TO THE FRAME, A DOUBLE ACTING HYDRAULIC CYLINDER TO SWING THE GRAPPLER ARMS BETWEEN SAID POSITIONS, MEANS MOUNTING THE GRAPPLER ARMS ON THE FIRST NAMED MOUNTING MEANS FOR SWINGING IN SAID COMMON PLANE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER, SECOND DOUBLE ACTING HYDRAULIC CYLINDER TO SWING THE ARMS TOWARD AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER, A PAIR OF FLUID LINES CONNECTED TO THE FIRST AND SECOND CYLINDERS, THE FIRST SO AS TO SUPPLY FLUID UNDER PRESSURE THERETO TO CAUSE THE FIRST CYLINDER TO MOVE THE ARMS TO THEIR DEPENDING POSITION AND THE SECOND CYLINDER TO SWING THE ARMS TOGETHER AND THE SECOND SO AS TO SUPPLY FLUID PRESSURE THERETO TO CAUSE THE SECOND CYLINDER TO MOVE THE ARMS AWAY FROM EACH OTHER AND THE FIRST CYLINDER TO SWING THE ARMS TO THEIR GENERALLY HORIZONTAL POSITION, A PRESSURE RESPONSIVE VALVE IN THE CONNECTION OF THE FIRST LINE TO THE SECOND HYDRAULIC CYLINDER WHEREBY THE ARMS WILL NOT BE SWUNG TOWARD EACH 